Mold for and method of making drainpipe splash blocks



Oct. 16, 1951 R. F. BUCHANAN MOLD FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING DRAIN PIPE SPLASH BLOCKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 9, 1948 FlG.-3

n a .n o m N U MB F f r e b o R F|G..-4 ATTORNEYS Oct. 16, 1951 R. F. BUCHANAN 2,571,417

MOLD FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING DRAIN PIPE SPLASH BLOCKS Filed July 9, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 g 27 l-fij 5 3 fxfi INVENTOR. Robert F. Buchanan ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOLD FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING DRAINIPIPE SPLASH BLOCKS 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a mould for and a method of making splash blocks or slabs, which are placed beneath the lower ends of drain pipes or down spouts leading from gutters, to prevent water draining from roofs from washing away earth and also to convey the water away from a building foundation.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide means for casting a splash block out of concrete or the like material, and thereby eliminate the additional cost and necessity for building forms and casting the b ock at the building site.

Another object thereof is to produce an improved mould for casting spash blocks or similar slabs.

A further object thereof is to provide an improved method of casting splash blocks or similar articles which will permit rapid and economical production of such articles with a minimum of breakage.

A still further object thereof is to provide an improved mould for castin an article of this type, together with an improved method of removing the cast article from the mou d.

A further object thereof is to produce an improved mould for casting a splash block which will permit the plastic material of the block, after becoming hardened or set, to be easily removed without damage.

Other objects of the inventionwill become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mould for casting a splash block and embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a view of the front end of the mould;

Figure 3 is a view of the rear end of the mould;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1, showing details of construction of the mould; 1

Figure 5 is a side view of the mould in use, said mould being positioned on a support and so associated therewith as to permit ready removal of the cast splash block by action with the support; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a splash block cast by the mould.

Referring to the drawings in detail and first to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the mould disclosed is employed in casting drain pipe splash blocks in an inverted condition. The mould has a bottom I9 which may be made from a flat sheet of steel. This sheet is formed so as to provide a central longitudinally extending ridge II with similar downwardly sloping planar surfaces I2 and I3 on each side thereof. With this shape of the bottom, the block B, shown in Figure 6, will be cast with a longitudinally extending, recessed top surface S, down which water can flow, to be drained away from a building foundation. The bottom ll! of the mould is wider at one end than at the other, thus providing diverging side edges. The length of the bottom IU of the mould is also greater than its width, and in practice the length may be greater than a yard so as to permit a block to be cast which is approximately one yard in length.

The side walls I4 and I5 of the mould extend along the side edges of the bottom Ill with the side walls divergin in a direction outwardly from the bottom II), as in Figure 4. Each side wall includes a base I6 and a top I! which, in the particular mould shown, are made of wood, although other material may be used. The base It has less depth than the top I! and is provided with an inner beveled edge I8 which thus provides an inwardly sloping surface for the wall at the juncture of one wall I4 0r I5 with the bottom III. The two members forming each side wall may be rigidly secured to the bottom ID by suitable means, such as screws I9, preferably having a sufficient length to xtend through the base I6 and into the top H, as best shown in Figure 4.

At the end of the side walls I4 and I5 which are closer together, there is provided a wooden end wall 20, the bottom of which is shaped to conform with the top surface of the bottom ID of the mould. This end wall 20 rests on the bottom I0 and also abuts the ends of the side walls I4 and I5, being rigidly secured thereto by screws 2|, as in Fig. 3. At the juncture of the inside surface of the end wall with the bottom member, two pieces of moulding 22 and 23, as of triangular cross section, are attached to the end wall 20. This moulding is of such size that it will provide a sloping surface similar to the sloping surfaces of the beveled inner edges I8 of the base I! of each side wall. When the block B is cast in the mould in inverted position, the top side edgeswill be beveled as at 24 and the top edge of the narrow end of the block will be beveled as at 25, in Figure 6, which shows th block in its normal position for use, beneath the lower end of a down spout 40.

The ends of the side wall of the mould, as in Figure 1, which are spaced apart the greater distance, have associated therewith a removable end wall 26, while the bottom In of the mould is of. such length as to extend slightly beyond the re- 3 movable end wall. This end wall 26 abuts the ends of the side walls 14 and I5 and its bottom is shaped so that it fully engages the bottom of the mould. The inner surface of this end wall has no sloping part to provide any beveled edge on the block to be cast in the mould. The removable end wall 26 is normally held from movement away, from the ends of theside walls by a removable pin 21, which is'inserted in aihole 28 in the center of the bottom Hl' adjacent the end wall 26, the pin, when in the hole, thus acting as an abutment for end wall 2 3. Pin 21 is provided with a handle 29, to-facilitate its re moval and insertion. To prevent the end wall from shifting upwardly with respect (othe side walls 14 and l 5, two pins 30, such as nails. extend through the end wall 26, and also extend with a friction fit into holes in the side walls l4-andl5- (see Figure 5). These pins, as they are arranged, will not interfere. with the removal of. the end wall in a longitudinal direction from the side walls, whenever: the abutment'pin' 27- is removed.

There is also providedtwo'chains 3 I and 32 "for attachingthe ends ofthe removable end wall to the central part of "the bottomlll', but permitting sufhcient relative movement therebetween. One of these chains, such as'chain' 3|, is threaded through an eye 33in'theend-of the handle 29 of the abutment pinv 21; The chains 3! and prevent. the endwall 25 from becoming separated from the mould andlost, and also prevent the end wall from falling'or dropping on'the floor and becoming damaged when removed duringremoval of: the blockfrom the mould, as will later become apparent. By having one of the chains passing through an eye 'in'the abutment pin-handle, the abutment pin 21. also-cannot become lost:

The under surface of the bottom I Q of the mould is'provided with'an abutment 34, shown as a short length of pipe welded or otherwise suitiably attached to the bottom ll Theposition of the abutment 34 is intermediate the ends of the mould, and slightly forwardof its center;

In using the mould to cast splash blocks; it is preferably placed on a suitable'support with the bottom [I] resting on the support, a support found to be practical being a table-like structure shown'in'Figure 5', which is made from angle iron. As shown, the support structure or table has spaced legs 35 and- 36, the lower ends of I which are preferably'solidly set-in a foundation 41, such as cement. The legs35' and 36 have attachedthereto horizontal angle irons 3'! and 38, which extend'outwardly on each side of the legs; and a cross brace 39 is connected between the top'ends of the legs 35 and 3G. The mould is placed on the two horizontal angle irons 3-1 and 38, with the abutment 34 therebetween. and spaced a short distance, of such asabout inches, from the'horizontal bar 38 onwhich the wider end of the mould, at removable end wall Z6; is resting; There need be no attachment between the mould and the support structure; the mould being free to be shifted on' the support structureby a; sliding action.

To mould a splash block, the removable end wall' 26 is placed in position on themould and held against upwardmovement by the nails 30 and against outward' movementby 'the' abutment pin 21. The inner surfaces of. the mould. are preferably coated with oil or'the like to prevent any excessive sticking of the concrete'to the walls and. bottom of the mould. The concrete,- in a plastic state, is thenpoured' into the mould and to the level of the top" of thesidewalls arfdend walls, it being noted that the top edges of all of these walls are in a single plane. The concrete is then allowed to set or become hardened. After a suflicient time has elapsed to accomplish the hardening, the abutment pin 21 is removed from its hole in the bottom ID. The mould is then grasped by the two hands of an operator at points along the side walls, with the operator standing at the end offtlie mould'having the removable end wall 26. The entire mould is then rapidly shifted by sliding toward the operator, thus moving it along the top of the supporting table to bring theabutment 34 into engagement with the front horizontal angle bar 38, sufficient force being employed to produce a relatively hard blow or hammering action. Such blow or blows will loosen the cast block in the mould, such loosening also resulting from the momentum given the cast block which will be of considerable weight. If the block does not loosen with one blow, additional blows can be used. Since the block tends' to shift relative to the mould by the blows, and the removable end wall 26 moves with the block, as soon asthe nails 30 are freed from their holes, the end wal126 will drop off the end of thebottom II] of theimould and'be suspended by the attaching chains without possibility of damage. The block can now be easily slid out the forward'end of'the mould, that'is, the wider end of the mould. After removal, the block is preferably cured before use.

When the block' is turned over after coming from the mould, it'will be of the'shape andconfiguration shown in Figure 6; Such a block will have a top surface S provided with a longitudi nally extending depression, and along the top edges of the side walls and the small endofthe block there will be beveled surfaces 24 and 25; which-are formed by the sloping surfaces l8 on the side walls and the beveled moulding pieces 22 and 23at the rigidly attached-"end wall of the mould; No :beveled top edge will'be present at the large endofthe block, since the removable end wall 26 is not provided with anymoulding strips having beveled surfaces.

The splash block thus formed can be readily positioned beneath a drain pipe or down spout, such as'the downspout 40 shown in dotted lines in Figure 6. In installing the splash block for use, the large end-maybe positioned against the foundation of the building, and also may be cemented thereto, if desired. As the large end surface of the block is a smooth planar surface, the block can be fitted snugly against the building foundation. Theblock is preferably set in the earth to a point just below the beveled edges 24, and also isset to slope downwardly from the larger end'tothe smaller end, so that water discharged from the down spout will flow to the smaller end, remote from the foundation, and thus be carried away from the foundation.

By constructing splash blocks in the manner described; andby the use of my-improved mould, it'isnot'necessary to make'any' special forms, requiring time and material, or perform special operations at the building site. Normally, when a slab of concrete is cast in situ, it is necessaryto finish the upper surface, as by troweling, after the concret'e'has set. initially. Due to air bubbles'rising to the'surfa'ce, and irregularities produced by levelingoperations during casting, the upper surface is almost never smooth. Particularly'when the upper surface is irregular, as inthe case' of a splash block having a longitudinal depression, the finishing operations are often tedibus and time-consuming, thereby adding materially to the cost. Also, even if the concrete is poured up against a form, the upper surface may be rough and pitted. It will be noted that, in accordance with my invention, the surface which is to form the upper surface of the block, is cast down against the smooth surface of the bottom of the mould. Not only does the weight of the concrete tend to produce a smooth surface, but pits or other surface irregularities are not produced by air bubbles rising to the top, or the like. The top of the block, in the mould, requires no finishing, since it becomes the bottom when installed, and is therefore buried. Thus, a simple leveling or scraping operation, as by a bar or float resting on the sides of the mould, and scraped along the top, is sufficient. As will be evident, the method of my invention eliminates not only the cost of constructing individual moulds at the building site, but the often more expensive finishing operations usually necessary.

My splash blocks are easily installed by merely digging a proper recess in'the ground. Also, all the splash blocks for a building will be uniform in size and appearance, thereby making the building more attractive. The beveled edges 25 and 25, on the top edges of the side walls and the smaller end of the block, not only produce a more attractive appearance of the splash block, but also permit a lawn mower or the like to be run over the splash block without damage thereto. By making the splash block separate from the building site, where forms generally are not provided with any bottom except the earth, it will be noted that my splash block can be moved and reset more easily because of the smooth bottom surface which rests on the ground. The splash block of my construction may also be lighter in weight than a splash block moulded at the building, as special light aggregate can be used. This lightness also facilitates removal and re-setting of the blocks, which is sometimes reouired after a period of time, due to settling of the earth around a foundation.

In the particular mould shown, the bottom H! is made of steel and the side walls i4 and i5 and the end walls are made of wood, but neither the same materials nor the construction shown need be followed, as other materials and other ways of constructing the mould may be used. Thus, it will be evident that the mould may be made completely of metal, with the side walls and the ri id end walls integral with the bottom. It is also evident that the contour of the bottom can be changed if desired, such as to make the rece sed top surface of the block curved from edge to edge, instead of a wide V-shape. This can be done by merely changing the contour of the top surface of the bottom of the mould. Therefore, being aware of the possibility of modification in the particular mould shown as embodying the invention and without departing from the fundamental principles of the invention, it is not intended that the scope of said invention be limited in any manner except in accordance with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mould and supporting structure for casting in inverted condition a drain pipe splash block or like structure and removing the block therefrom while the mould remains in the upright position assumed during the casting, said support structure comprising a framework including spaced members and said mould comprisin a bottom wall, two side walls, and two end walls, said side walls being of greater length than the end walls and said side walls and one of said end walls all being rigidly attached to the bottom wall and said other end wall being removable, said removable end wall being of a length greater than the distance between the said walls at that end and arranged to overlap and abut the end surfaces of the side walls, detachable means for securing the removable end wall in engagement with the bottom and end surfaces of the side walls and permitting the said end wall to be removed by a movement outwardly from the ends of the side walls when the detachable means is removed, the bottom wall of said mould being formed with a central longitudinal ridge and the surfaces on each side thereof uniformly sloping downwardly toward the side walls and the rigid end wall being of less length than the removable end wall, abutment means attached to the outer surface of the bottom wall, said support structure having its spaced members so arranged that the mould bottom can slidably rest thereon with its abutment means below one of the members to thereby permit the establishment of a hammering action on the mould by a rapid sliding movement thereof to bring the abutment into ens gagement with the one of said spaced members.

2. The method of casting in inverted condition a drain pipe splash block or like member, which comprises providing a plastic material receiving mould having a bottom with a central longitudinal ridge, rigidly attached side walls in converging relation, a rigidly attached end wall at the ends of the side walls which are closest together, and a removable end wall at the opposite end of the side walls, placing the mould on a support structure with its bottom resting thereon and free for sliding movement in a longitudinal direction, placing material in a plastic state in the mould and allowing it to assume a hardened condition, and then removing the hardened material by a hammering action on the mould with said hammering action taking place in a direction to cause the hardened plastic material to move toward the end of the mould having the removable end wall.

3. The method of casting in inverted condition a drain pipe splash block or like member, which comprises providing a plastic material receiving mould having a bottom with a central longitudinal ridge, rigidly attached side walls in converging relation, a rigidly attached end wall at the ends of the side walls which are closest together, and a removable end wall at the opposite end of the side walls, placing the mould on a support structure with its bottom resting thereon and free for sliding movement in a longitudinal direction, placing material in a plastic state in the mould, leveling it off and allowing it to assume a hardened condition, and then removing the hardened material by providing cooperating abutment means on the support structure and the bottom of the moulds and by a rapid sliding of the mould on the support produce a hammering action between the abutments, said hammering action taking place when the mould is moved on the support in thedirection of its end having the removable end wall.

4. A method of making a drain pipe splash block or the like, which comprises pouring settable material comprising concrete or the like down against a surface having a raised central longitudinally extending portion to provide a recessed upper surface for such block when installed, restricting and confining the ends and sides or the; mass: 0E poured materials. sai ma.- teri'a'l. being oonfinedi as: to; be. wider at one (inch than the; other; leveling; offr the upper surface of;- thepoured: mass, permitting said materiall to set sufficiently, for; removal. from; such confinement, and then, removing only: the restriction to the wider endof said. mass and removing the poured and. set mass 011- said pouring Surface While,- supported thereby and, in the di- IGOtiOIiE of said Wider end: without disturbing the relationship existing between the pouring surface and; the restriGtlng and. confining.- sides.

5:-., A method of making a. drain pipe splash block or the like which, comprises pouring settable material; comprisingconcrete or. the; like down, against a surface; having, a. configuration corresponding to the; upper surface oi, such. block when installed, restricting. and. confining. the ends and: sides of the. mass. of poured. material said material heing confined so as to be wider atone end than the other,. leveling off, the upper sur face. of, the poured. mass. permitting, saidmaterial toset sufficiently, for removal from such, confine.- ment,. removing the restriction to, the wider, end of said. mass, and producing one or. more blows in, a, longitudinalv direction so as to cause the poured and, set, mass to move off said pouring suriace in, the direction of said wider end.

6,... In, a, method. of casting a drain pipe splash block or like article in an inverted condition which comprises providing a mould having a bottom, side walls and end. Walls with the bottom 8 formed: to provide. a longitudinally extending depressed surface in the block to bemoulded the side wall converging toward one end and the end wall of greater length. being removable; positioning the mould on a support in sliding relation thereto, providing the mouldand support with cooperating abutment means. whereby byshifting the mould on the support in the direction of theend wall of greater length ahammering action will. result, placing material in the mould in a plastic. state and allowing such to harden, conditioning the longer' end wall for separationfrom themold, and thenmoving. the mould on the support to produce the hammering actionto. thereby loosen the hardened material from the mould and cause it. to be moved relativelyto the bottom of themould andout through the end, thereof.

ROBERT F. BUCHANAN.

REFERENCES. CITED The following references; are of recordinthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number. Name Date 810,579- Stokoe Jan. 23, 1906 915,283 Frost Mar. 16, 1909 947,093 Bailey. Jan. 18, 1910 987,303. Keller Mar. 21, 191.1

1,637,998. Heltzel Aug. 2, 1927 2,334,779 Luff Nov... 23, 19,43 

